Maynard Cooper & Gale and Nexsen Pruet have agreed to merge on April 1, 2023. Together we will be Maynard Nexsen.

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Matthew's Profile

Matthew advises employers and benefits professionals across the country in matters related to employee benefits and executive compensation. He has experience representing employers in defense of audits, investigations, and proceedings by government agencies (IRS and DOL) concerning benefits and compensation matters.

Matthew’s practice includes advising clients with respect to all types of executive compensation programs and employee benefit plans, including qualified and nonqualified retirement, deferred compensation, profit sharing, 401(k), defined benefit, and health and welfare plans. He also advises clients with respect to compliance issues under HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, and the Affordable Care Act (Health Care Reform), as well as requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. He works with clients to identify and correct plan defects and compliance failures in tax-qualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans through IRS and DOL voluntary correction programs.

Matthew has been recognized by several organizations and industry publications for his work as an employee benefits attorney, including Alabama Super Lawyers and Mid-South Super Lawyers. He is a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation and Labor & Employment practice groups in Maynard’s Birmingham office.

Matthew's Accolades

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2021-present)
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in Employee Benefits (2016-Present)
  • Alabama Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in Employee Benefits (2015)

Matthew's Affiliations and Civic Involvement

Affiliations
  • American Bar Association
  • Alabama State Bar Association
  • Birmingham Bar Association
  • The University of Alabama Human Resources Management Conference Advisory Committee
  • Alabama Plan Sponsor Council, Board Member
Civic Involvement
  • Junior Executive Board of the American Cancer Society
  • Birmingham Ducks Unlimited Board
  • Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity, Alumni Advisor

Matthew's Speaking Engagements

  • April 24-25, 2018: “Tax Reform and Resulting Developments Under Employee Benefits Law” for Colonial Life's Broker Summit, Pensacola, FL and Mobile, AL

Admissions

State Bar: Alabama, Florida

Education
  • University of Alabama School of Law
    • (2010, J.D., magna cum laude; Alabama Law Review; Order of the Coif; Hugo Black Scholar; Chicago Title Insurance Company Award; Bench & Bar Legal Honor Society, Treasurer; Student Bar Association Senator)

  • University of Alabama
    • (2007, B.S., cum laude; Health Care Management)


Friday, September 17, 2021

The DOL's Laser Focus on Mental Health Parity: Practical Considerations for Plan Sponsors

Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) entered into a settlement agreement with UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, United Behavioral Health, and Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. (collectively, “United”), wherein United agreed to pay more than $15.6 million to settle allegations that they violated the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act...

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Monday, March 29, 2021

DOL Delivers Administrative Headaches with Updated Outbreak Period Extension Guidance

Just as (everyone thought) time was set to expire on the 2020 Outbreak Period Extension guidance released by DOL, HHS, IRS, and the Department of the Treasury, the DOL (in coordination with the other agencies) released EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-1 (“Notice 2021-1”) setting forth a case-by-case approach for determining...

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Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Flex Plans are Extra Flexible in 2021

Employers who sponsor a Section 125 cafeteria (“flexible benefits”) plan, including those with a health and/or dependent care flexible spending account (each a “FSA”), may adopt new rules for their plans under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “CAA”), and related IRS Notice 2021-15 (the “Notice”). In addition to these...

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